This high-profile commercial release is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by You Ashizawa. The book grabbed literary awards, making the film much anticipated. The thriller-suspense plot line is punctuated by melodrama, a technique typical of Japanese film. When Ando’s (Seiyo Uchino) daughter Kana (Mikako Yoshida) commits suicide by jumping off a ledge in her high school, he is understandably distraught and blames himself for not paying enough attention to her problems. As he investigates the circumstances, and starts talking to her friend Saki (Miyu Yoshimoto), the situation becomes more unclear. Was foul play involved? Is Saki, who seemed benign at first, playing mind games with Ando? She is clearly at the top of the pecking order in the school, and was involved in a beauty pageant with Kana. Could she be a killer? The mystery is reasonably well-executed and, if you ignore a bit of overacting by some of the principles, it’s an engaging ride. (120 min.)